Produce container

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a produce container including a receptacle, a lid and a hinge. The receptacle defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim which has a first, outwardly extending flange. The lid is associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth. The lid has a second, outwardly extending flange. The second flange is adapted to correspond to the first flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to close off the mouth. The lid has a raised quadrilateral platform with two front and two rear corners. The hinge attaches the lid to the receptacle and is located along a rear side of the container. Each of the two front corners includes an indent.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to packaging containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a produce container with locking formations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for produce growers and traders to use produce containers, also known as punnets, to transport fresh produce from farms to distributors or wholesalers who would then on-sell the produce to retailers for selling to the general public. Typically, the produce is packed in a large number of containers arranged in stacks which are fitted into a big plastic tray for transportation.

It is generally desired in the produce packaging industry to provide a container which allows the produce to be aerated before consumption in order to prevent the following from happening:

(i) a reduction in the density of the produce;

(ii) a change in the texture and rheology of the produce which may lead to different mouthfeel and appearance;

(iii) a reduction in shelf-life due to oxidation reactions; and

(iv) a decrease in the intensity of flavours.

Also, it is commonplace to provide locking formations in produce containers so as to keep the lids closed before consumption of the produce. Existing produce containers however are not user-friendly in that the formations are difficult to manipulate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a produce container which may satisfy the abovementioned desire and/or ameliorate the above shortcoming, or which will at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce container including:

a receptacle which defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim, the rim having a first, outwardly extending flange;

a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a second, outwardly extending flange, the second flange adapted to correspond to the first flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a raised quadrilateral platform with two front and two rear corners;

a hinge which attaches the lid to the receptacle, the hinge being located along a rear side of the container;

wherein each of the two front corners includes an indent.

Preferably, each indent has a curved contour. More preferably, the curved contour is configured to conform to the profile of the tip of a human's thumb.

Preferably, the container includes a pair of locking formations located in the vicinity of two front corners, respectively, the locking formations being provided to enable the lid to be maintained in a closed position. More preferably, each formation includes a female member provided in the first flange and a male member provided in the second flange.

Preferably, when the lid is in the close position, the first flange is in contact with the second flange.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce container including:

a receptacle which defines a mouth;

a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a raised quadrilateral platform defined by four walls and a top, each wall being connected to the top by a bevelled transition portion;

wherein each bevelled transition portion includes one or more apertures.

In a preferred embodiment, the or each aperture is elongate in shape.

It is preferred that the or each elongate aperture is orientated such that its length is parallel to a longitudinal length of the bevelled transition portion in which the or each aperture is located.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the top of a produce container in a closed state in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the top of the produce container of FIG. 1 in an open state;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the produce container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the produce container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the produce container of FIG. 1 illustrating manipulation of two locking formations;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the produce container of FIG. 1 illustrating the lid being closed and locked to the receptacle by way of the locking formation which is pressed on by a user's thumb and index finger;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the produce container of FIG. 1 illustrating opening of the lid by unlocking the formation with the user's fingers; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the produce container of FIG. 1 being placed in a stack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a produce container 10 is shown including a receptacle 12 and a lid 14. The receptacle 12 defines a mouth 16 circumscribed by a rim 18. The rim 18 has a first, outwardly extending flange 20. The lid 14 is associated with the receptacle 12 to close off the mouth 16.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 14 has a second, outwardly extending flange 22. The second flange is configured to correspond to the first flange 20 when the lid 14 is positioned on the receptacle 12 to close off the mouth 16. The lid 14 has a raised quadrilateral platform 24 with two front corners 26 & 28 and two rear corners 30 & 32. The container 10 has a hinge 34 which attaches the lid 14 to the receptacle 12, the hinge 34 is located along a rear side 36 of the container 10. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the two front corners 26 & 28 includes an indent 38, 40.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the container 10 has a pair of locking formations 46 & 48 located in the vicinity of two front corners 26 & 28, respectively. The locking formations 26 & 28 are provided to enable the lid 14 to be maintained in a closed position. Each formation 26, 28 has a female member 50, 52 (see FIG. 2) provided in first flange 20 and a downwardly extending male member 54, 56 provided in the second flange 22. The indents 38 & 40 are located such that they correspond to the front corners 28 & 26 respectively. Each indent 38, 40 has a curved contour which is configured to conform to the profile of the tip 42 of a human's thumb 44. As such, the indents 38 & 40 allow the thumbs 44 adequate room to get a firm grip on the locking formations 46 & 48.

It will be appreciated that when the lid 14 is in the close position, the first flange 20 abuts and is in contact with the second flange 22.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the raised quadrilateral platform 24 is defined by four walls 58, 60, 62 & 64 and a top 66. Each of the walls 58, 50, 62, 64 is connected to the top 66 by a bevelled transition portion 68, 70, 72 & 74. Each of the two side bevelled transition portions 68 & 72 has two apertures. Each of the two end bevelled transition portions 70 & 74 has one aperture 78. All of the apertures 76 & 78 are elongate in shape. Each elongate aperture 76, 78 is orientated such that its length is parallel to a longitudinal length of the bevelled transition portion 68, 70, 72 or 74 in which the aperture 76, 78 is located. It will be appreciated that since the apertures 76 & 78 are provided on the bevelled transition portions 68, 70, 72 & 74, air circulation (as indicated by arrows 80 in FIG. 8) through the apertures 76 & 78 which is disposed on an inclined and unobstructed surface is enabled even when another identical produce container is stacked on top of the produce container 10.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the produce container of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages:

-   -   1. it facilitates easy and convenient manipulation of the         locking formations for opening and closing of the produce         container; and     -   2. it enables air circulation within the produce container which         results in prolongation of the shelf-life of the produce carried         by the produce container.     -   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention         described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications         other than those specifically described. All such variations and         modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit         of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined         from the foregoing description. 

1. A produce container including: a receptacle which defines a mouth circumscribed by a rim, the rim having a first, outwardly extending flange; a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a second, outwardly extending flange, the second flange adapted to correspond to the first flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a raised quadrilateral platform with two front and two rear corners; a hinge which attaches the lid to the receptacle, the hinge being located along a rear side of the container; wherein each of the two front corners includes an indent.
 2. The produce container of claim 1, wherein each indent has a curved contour.
 3. The produce container of claim 2, wherein the curved contour is configured to conform to the profile of the tip of a human's thumb.
 4. The produce container of claim 1, which includes a pair of locking formations located in the vicinity of two front corners, respectively, the locking formations being provided to enable the lid to be maintained in a closed position.
 5. The produce container of claim 4, wherein each formation includes a female member provided in the first flange and a male member provided in the second flange.
 6. The produce container of claim 5, when the lid is in the close position, the first flange is in contact with the second flange.
 7. A produce container including: a receptacle which defines a mouth; a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a raised quadrilateral platform defined by four walls and a top, each wall being connected to the top by a bevelled transition portion; wherein each bevelled transition portion includes one or more apertures.
 8. The produce container of claim 7, wherein the or each aperture is elongate in shape.
 9. The produce container of claim 7, wherein the or each elongate aperture is orientated such that its length is parallel to a longitudinal length of the bevelled transition portion in which the or each aperture is located. 